Ditching-machine.



W. L. GREY, SR.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. Io, IQI 1.

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DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI. 1o. 19|?.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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DITCHING-MACHIIN E.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed September 1Q, 1917. Serial No. 190,529.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLrs L. GREY, Sr., a citizen of the United. States, residing at Modesto, in the county of Stanislaus, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the lsame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in ditch diggers or excavating machines generally. The object of the invention is to produce a ditching machine which will dig a ditch of a predetermined depth, in a rapid and effective manner. A further object is to provide the excavating member so that there is no possibility of the excavated dirt packin or clogging the same. A still further ob] ect of the invention is to provide a simple and eilicient means for advancing the excavator into and'out of the ditch, since the entire machine moves along the bottom of the ditch when in operation. I further provide a means for sloping the upper edges of the ditch to prevent caving invand the like.

And finally a still further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the excavating member and conveyer structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of the front end of the machine showing the method of changing the angle to the horizon of the machine in order to allow the same being advanced into and out of the ditch.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main frame of the machine, on which is mounted the driving power which may be a steam or gasolene engine, as is found preferable. The front end of the frame 1 is mounted on a strong spring 2, and such frame 1 and spring 2 are connected by a large king bolt 3 to the front axle t on which are mounted the front wheels 5, the ends of the spring 2 being slidable on the axle 4. The frame 1 is supported at its rear end upon the rear wheels 6 which are connected in driving relation with the motive power, in any suitable manner Vwhereby the machine may be advanced in either direction. This latter structure, of course, is co1nmon, hence I do not enter into any detailed description of the same.

The side beams of the frame 1 project beyond the rear end of the machine proper and support a shaft 7. On this shaft 7 is mounted my improved excavating member. This excavating member embodies a plurality of rings 8, spaced apart to form intervening spaces 9. Each of thc rings 8 is secured by spokes 10 to the shaft 7 Two or more of the rings 8 may be connected by means of cross bars 11, spaced apart. Mounted .on therings 8 and cross bars 11, in ,staggered relation, are digging teeth 12.

In practice the shaft is placed in driving relation with the motive power of the machine, by means of the usual mechanical structures found desirable` Then as such shaft 7 is rotated the teeth 12 cut and tear the dirt for the excavation, and this dirt falls or sifts through the open spaces between the rings 8 and bars 11 on the conveyer 13. This conveyer discharges upon a system of lift buckets 14, which lifts the material above the level of the ground and deposits it into the side conveyers 15 which discharge it on the sides of the ditch. On

each end of the excavating member I provide a plurality of cutting blades 16 which converge together at their outer ends. With the rotation of the excavator these blades slope oft1 the upper edges of the ditch to prevent the same from caving in. Also the piles or levies discharged by the side conveyers 15 build up the sloping sides of the ditch.

My improved machine is designed to work directly in the ditch and to this end it becomes necessary to provide a means for advancing the entire machine down into the ditch or out of the same. This I accomplish by tightening or loosening the nut 32L on the bolt 3. Then the same is loosened this per mits the spring 2 to force the front end of the frame 1 upwardly, and this causes the frame 1 to slope downwardly at an angle to the horizon from its front to its rear end.

, rI`hen when the excavating member is operated this will cause it to make a sloping excavation down into which the machine will travel. Then when a predetermined depth is reached the nut 32L is tightened to level the frame l, and thereafter a ditch of uniform depth will be made. When on the other hand, the device is to take itself out of the ditch, the nut 3a will be tightened. This will cause the frame 1 to slope in the opposite direction and the action of the excavator will then build a slope out of the ditch, up which the machine can travel. It is understood, of course, that the travel of the machine itself is accomplished by the power connected with the wheel 6.

The essential features of my improved machine, for which I claim novelty, are: 1st. The openI sieve-like excavator which prevents the dirt from packing and causes the same to sift freely therethrough upon the conveyer. 2nd. The means for dropping the machine into the ditch or carrying the same therefrom.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfils the object of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and usefuland desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

VIn a ditch digger having a body, a means for positioning the body at different inclinations to the horizon, such means including a frame secured to the body, a shaft positioned under the forward end of the frame, wheels on the shaft, an inverted bow spring interposed between the frame and the shaft, such spring being pivotally mounted to the frame and slidable on the shaft, a king bolt on the shaft projecting upwardly through the frame at the pivotal point of the spring, and a nut on the bolt bearing on the frame to force the same toward the shaft as the nut is advanced on the bolt and allow the spring to force the body in the opposite direction as the nut is retracted on the bolt.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

WILLIS L. GREY, Sn.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

